Folded tensioned highline system

ABSTRACT

A highline transfer system for transferring loads between ships underway at sea having a highline winch and a ram tensioner to compensate for relative ship motion and a folded highline connected to a winch having three drums. The first and second drums of the winch are connected to spool opposite ends of the folded highline and the third drum is operably connected to the ram tensioner to drive the first and second drums in relatively like directions in response to relative ship motion. A power means is connected to selectively drive the first and second drums simultaneously in relatively opposite directions for positive control of the load with respect to the receiving ship and connected to selectively drive the second drum for positive control of the load with respect to the supply ship.

Elite States Hanke 1 Jan. 30, 1973 Inventor: August M. Hanke, Falls Church,

Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy [22] Filed: 0ct.21,1971

[21] Appl.N0.: 190,874

[52] U.S. CI. ..2l4/l3, 104/114, 254/172 [51] Int. Cl. ..B63b 27/18 [58] Field of Search .....2I4/l3, 14; 104/1 14; 212/72; 254/172 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,500,764 3/1970 Warman ..104/1l4 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,199,228 7/1970 Great Britain ..254/172 1,238,537 7/1971 Great Britain ..214/13 278,118 11/1964 Netherlands ..254/I72 SHIPS ROLL llOu SUPPLY SHIP Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E Werner Attorney-R. S. Sciascia et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A highline transfer system for transferring loads between ships underway at sea having a highline winch and a ram tensioner to compensate for relative ship motion and a folded highline connected to a winch having three drums. The first and second drums of the winch are connected to spool opposite ends of the folded highline and the third drum is operably connected to the ram tensioner to drive the first and second drums in relatively like directions in response to relative ship motion. A power means is connected to selectively drive the first and second drums simultaneously in relatively opposite directions for positive control of the load with respect to the receiving ship and connected to selectively drive the second drum for positive control of the load with respect to the supply ship.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures sums ROLL H2 H8 RECEIVING SHIP PATENTEU JAN 3 0 I975 SHEET 1 [1F 2 Em Sine m E 1 Q I ml WM 1 w. 1M w aim aim 023505 5%:5

Y m m B Q o I 9 5V 4 6m warm jom waim ATTORNEY PATENTEI] JAN 30 1973 SHEET 2 BF 2 SHIPSIROLL RECEIVING SHIP FIG. 2.

SHIPS, ROLL SUPPLY SHIP llOu llOb

INVENTOR. A. M. HA lV/(E' FIG. 3.

ATTORNEY FOLDED TENSIONED IIIGHLINE SYSTEM The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to ships and more specifically to miscellaneous apparatus therefor.

Highline transfer systems provide a means to transfer loads between ships while underway at sea. Present systems use a highline between a supply ship and a receiving ship. A ram tensioner tensions the highline and takes in or lets out the highline as required to compensate for relative motion between the ships, or ships roll. Hauling lines are connected to a trolley which is supported by the highline. Adjustable tensioning inhaul and outhaul winches work back to back to move the trolley running on the highline by adjusting the length of the hauling lines to compensate for ships roll. In order to transfer a load by moving the trolley along the highline, a winch operator increases the tension setting of one of the hauling winches causing a tension unbalance on the trolley thus causing the trolley to move in the direction of the higher tension. In this manner a load is moved along the highline between the ships. Thus, the trolley is supported by a single highline and moved by the hauling lines. I

The present state of the art highline system requires an infinitely variable speed winch drive, usually a hydraulic device; line tension sensing devices; speed sensing devices; and electronic integration of tension, speed, rotation and operator commands into the required command signal to cause each hauling winch to respond to ship motion and to the winch operators transfer commands. In addition, such present systems require substantial power, for example, two 100 hp. motors. Despite the aid of the above complex system requirements, such present known highline systems are substantially incapable of positive speed and position control of the load with respect to either ship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The folded tensioned highline transfer system supports a load and trolley on a folded highline which is tensioned by the standard ram tensioner through a first differential. No hauling lines are required. The trolley is connected to and supported by the folded highline. A first end of the highline spools on a first drum and then is routed via pulleys from the supply ship to receiving ship and returns to dead-end at the trolley. A second end of the highline spools on a second drum is routed via pulleys to dead-end at the trolley without extending to the receiving ship. Thus, the folded highline comprises a line which is doubled or folded to form upper and lower portions thereof.

The two drums which spool the first and second ends of the highline comprise two drums of a three drum winch. The third drum spools a wire connected to the ram so that the ram tensions the folded highline and compensates for ships roll while driving the first and second drums in relatively like directions.

Advantageously however, due to the folded highline, tension developed by the ram is split substantially equally between the two parts of the folded highline instead of having all of the tension transmitted to a single highline such as is presently done. With both highline drums, i.e., the first and second drums, free to compensate for the action of the ram there will be substantially no movement in the highline between ships as the highline drums each payout and take in an equal amount of highline on a one-to-one ratio as the ram compensates for the roll of both ships.

Another advantage of the folded highline system is due to the addition of a second differential having a single 50 hp. electric motor with a shaft having a first gear to drive the second differential. The motor drives the highline drums in relatively opposite directions due to an idler gear between one leg of the second differential and the first highline drum. A second gear on the electric motor shaft and the addition of individual interlocking clutches permits selection of either the first or the second gear as to the driving member. The second gear provides direct drive to the second highline drum to provide direct and positive control of that drum while the first highline drum compensates for relative ship motion while being driven by the action of the ram. Thus, the drive provided by the motor through either the first or second gears is superimposed on the drive provided by the action of the ram.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a folded highline between a supply ship and a receiving ship.

It is another object of the invention to provide a load transfer means connected to and supported by the folded highline.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means of positive drive control for the load transfer means which control is superimposed upon the drive created through the action of the ram tensioner compensating for relative ship motion.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be come apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings wherein like parts are marked alike:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the prior art highline transfer system;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the folded tensioned highline transfer system of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the winch and power system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The adjustable inhaul and outhaul winches 26 and 28 are connected to trolley 20 by hauling lines 30 and 32 respectively and provided to work back to back to move trolley 20 along highline thus transferring load 22 between ships 12 and 18. Winches 26 and 28 are tension adjustable and adjust the length of hauling lines 30 and 32 by taking in or letting out the hauling lines to compensate for ships roll.

In order to transfer load 22 or move trolley between ships 12 and 18, the operator adjusts the tension setting in one of the hauling winches, 26 or 28, thus setting up a tension unbalance on trolley 20. As a result, trolley 20 moves in the direction of higher tension and load 22 is transferred between ships 12 and 18. The movement of trolley 20 along highline 10 is constantly influenced by ships roll acting on highline 10 and hauling lines and 32. The action of ships roll on the highline and on the hauling lines which are each attached to separate winches produces a differential effect which substantially reduces positive control of the trolley in this prior art system.

In the folded highline transfer system, as shown in FIG. 2, highline 110 is folded or doubled to form an upper portion 110a and a lower portion 110b connected to first and second drums 34 and 36 respectively. Drums 34 and 36 are portions of the winch and power system shown in FIG. 2 at block 52 and will be later discussed in greater detail. Drum 38, along with drums 34 and 36 form a winch 50 having three drums interconnected by shaft 51. Winch 50 is driven through ram tensioner 116 and highline winch 114 by a wire rope or cable 40. In this manner, the highline 110 is tensioned by ram tensioner 116 and compensation for ships roll is provided. However, highline 110 is not directly connected to highline winch 114 as highline 10 is so connected to winch 14 in FIG. 1, but rather indirectly and operably connected through a first differential 54 to drive the three drum winch 50.

Upper highline 110a spools on first drum 34 and is routed from supply ship 112 through pulley 42 to pulley 44 of receiving ship 118. I-Iighline 110a is then folded or doubled back towards ship 112, as viewed in FIG. 2, and dead ends at a connection to trolley 120. Lower highline 110b spools on second drum 36 and is routed through pulley 46 of ship 112 to dead end at a connection to trolley 120 opposite the dead end connection of highline 110a. In this manner, trolley 120 is supported by folded highline 110 and is moved between ships 112 and 118 by connection to upper and lower portions of the highline without the aid of hauling lines as required in the prior art devices. Thus, the load transfer means or trolley 120 is connected to and supported by the folded highline 110. Load 122 may be transferred by trolley 120 between ships 112 and 118. Thus, a highline transfer system for transferring loads between ships 112 and 118, being of the type including a highline winch 114 and a ram tensioner 116, comprises folded tensioned highline 110 including upper highline 110a and lower highline l10b.

The winch and power system shown in block 52, FIG. 2, is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3 wherein it is shown in greater detail that the highline transfer system also comprises winch 50 having three interconnected drums 34, 36 and 38. First drum 34 of winch 50 is operably connected to spool a first end of folded highline 110, or upper highline portion 110a. Second drum 36 of winch 50 is operably connected to spool a second end of folded highline 110, or lower highline portion 11012.

A first differential 54 is operably connected to winch 50. Third drum 38 of winch 50 is operably connected to ram tensioner 116 and to first differential 54 to cause first and second drums 34 and 36 respectively to be driven in relatively like directions in response to relative motion between ships 112 and 118. That is, cable 40 connects highline winch 114, ram tensioner 116 and spools on drum 38. Upper highline 1 10a spools on first drum 34 and lower highline ll0b spools on second drum 36. Ships roll is transmitted to winch 50 via drums 34, 36 and 38 and to ram tensioner 116 via cable 40. Thus the ram tensioner 116, tensions the folded highline 110 and compensates for ship roll and the tension therein is split substantially equally between highline portions 110a and 11%. With both highline drums, 34 and 36, free to compensate for the action of the ram there will be negligible movement, if any, in highline 110 between ships 112 and 118 as drums 34 and 36 let out and take in highline equally on a one-toone ratio as ram 116 compensates for ships roll. The first differential drive incorporated into winch 50 permits one highline drum, for example second drum 36 to be held stationary while first highline drum 34 compensates therefor by moving at twice the speed of ram driven drum 38. When this occurs the ram compensates for the take up lost due to the first highline drum being held stationary. In this manner, it is possible to hold the upper highline 110a stationary with respect to supply ship 112 as ram 1 l6 compensates for all relative ship motion.

Drive is also supplied to winch 50 through a second differential 56 by a power means operably connected to differential 56 and to first and second drums 34 and 36 to selectively drive the first and second drums simultaneously in relatively opposite directions, see FIG. 3. Alternately, the power means is operably connected to selectively drive only the second drum 36. In this manner, positive control of load 122 may be maintained with respect to either ship 118 or 112 respectively.

The power means may comprise an electric motor 58 including a shaft 60 connected thereto. First and second gears 62 and 64 respectively are mounted on shaft 60 in axially spaced relationship. Further included in the power means are first and second clutches 66 and 68 operably connected to shaft 60 to permit the power means to selectively drive either the first gear 62 or second gear 64.

First gear 62 is therefore selectively operable through clutch 66 to transmit a power input from motor 58 through differential 56 and through idler or backing gear 70 to drive first drum 34 and second drum 36 in relatively opposite directions. Second gear 64 is selectively operable through to clutch 68 to transmit a power input from motor 58 to drive second drum 36.

The described gearing differs from the ram driven differential gear drive in that the power input to differential 56 is transmitted to drums 34 and 36 via gears 56a and 56b respectively, however, gear 56a of differential 56 engages idler gear 70 which engages gear 71 of shaft 51 thus causing the input into differential 56 by electric motor 58 to drive drums 34 and 36 in relatively opposite directions rather than in relatively like directions as would occur without the use of idler gear 70. By the addition of a second gear 64 to shaft 60 and providing individual interlocking clutches 66 and 68 to permit selection of either gear 62 or 64 as the driving member, the first gear is selectively operable to transmit a power input to drums 34 and 36 in relatively opposite directions and second gear 64 is selectively operable to transmit a power input through gear 56b of differential 56, and gear 74 of winch 50 to provide direct and positive control of drum 36 while drum 34 is free to compensate for relative ship motion.

The load transfer means or trolley 120 may be maintained at a fixed position with respect to either ship 1 12 or 118, see FIG. 3. This may be accomplished due to brake means 72 operably connected to electric motor 58. When brake 72 is set and clutch 66 is selectively engaged, gear 62 which engages the outer gear of differential 56, locks the outer gear in position. Since clutch 68 is not engaged, gears 64, 56b and 74 are interlocked with gears 56a, 70 and 71 through the center portion of differential 56. In this manner, drive supplied to winch 50 through first differential 54 drives drums 34 and 36 in relatively like directions. This condition provides positive position control of trolley 120 with respect to receiving ship 118. When clutch 66 is released and clutch 68 is engaged and brake 72 is set, gear 64 locks in position thus similarly locking gears 56b and 74 in position. As a result, drum 36 is also locked in position and all drive supplied by ships roll to winch 50 through differential 54 drives drum 34 to provide total compensation for ships roll. Since clutch 66 is no longer engaged gear 62 and differential 56 are free floating as are gears 56a and 71. This condition provides positive position control of trolley 120 with respect to supply ship 112. Motor 58 is preferably a two speed motor to provide high speed trolley transit and slow speed accurate positioning. Brake 72 provides absolute position control of trolley 120 at all times with respect to either ship 112 or 118 through engagement of either clutch 68 or 66 respectively. If preferred, automatic control may be provided for selecting the appropriate clutch to control the trolley with respect to either ship.

Therefore, the drive supplied by motor 58 to winch 50 through differential 56 may be superimposed upon the drive supplied by ships roll to winch 50 through differential 54 thus providing positive speed and position control of trolley 120 with respect to either ship 118 or 112.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A highline transfer system for transferring loads between ships, said system being of the type including a highline winch and a ram tensioner and comprising:

a folded tensioned highline;

a winch having three interconnected drums;

a first drum of said winch operably connected to spool a first-end of said folded highline;

a second drum of said winch operably connected to spoola second end of said folded highline; a first differential;

a third drum of said winch operably connected to said ram tensioner and to said first differential to cause said first and second drums to be driven in relatively like directions in response to relative motion between said ships;

a second differential;

power means operably connected to said second differential and to said first and second drums to selectively drive said first and second drums simultaneous'ly in relatively opposite directions; and

said power means operably connected to selectively drive said second drum;

whereby positive control of the load may be maintained with respect to either of said ships.

2. The highline transfer system of claim 1 wherein said power means comprises an electric motor including:

a shaft connected to said motor;

first and second gears mounted on said shaft in axially spaced relationship; and

first and second clutches operably connected to said shaft to permit said power means to selectively drive either of said first or said second gears.

' 3. The highline transfer system of claim 2 wherein:

said first gear is selectively operable to transmit a power input from said electric motor through said second differential and through an idler gear to drive said first and second drums in relatively opposite directions.

4. The highline transfer system of claim 3 wherein:

said second gear is selectively operable to transmit a power input from said electric motor to drive said second drum.

5. The highline transfer system of claim 4 wherein:

a load transfer means is connected to and supported by said folded highline.

6. The highline transfer system of claim 5 wherein:

said electric motor includes brake means operably connected thereto;

whereby said load transfer means may be maintained at a fixed position with respect to either of said ships.

* 4 i It 

1. A highline transfer system for transferring loads between ships, said system being of the type including a highline winch and a ram tensioner and comprising: a folded tensioned highline; a winch having three interconnected drums; a first drum of said winch operably connected to spool a firstend of said folded highline; a second drum of said winch operably connected to spool a second end of said folded highline; a first differential; a third drum of said winch operably connected to said ram tensioner and to said first differential to cause said first and second drums to be driven in relatively like directions in response to relative motion between said ships; a second differential; power means operably connected to said second differential and to said first and second drums to selectively drive said first and second drums simultaneously in relatively opposite directions; and said power means operably connected to selectively drive said second drum; whereby positive control of the load may be maintained with respect to either of said ships.
 1. A highline transfer system for transferring loads between ships, said system being of the type including a highline winch and a ram tensioner and comprising: a folded tensioned highline; a winch having three interconnected drums; a first drum of said winch operably connected to spool a first-end of said folded highline; a second drum of said winch operably connected to spool a second end of said folded highline; a first differential; a third drum of said winch operably connected to said ram tensioner and to said first differential to cause said first and second drums to be driven in relatively like directions in response to relative motion between said ships; a second differential; power means operably connected to said second differential and to said first and second drums to selectively drive said first and second drums simultaneously in relatively opposite directions; and said power means operably connected to selectively drive said second drum; whereby positive control of the load may be maintained with respect to either of said ships.
 2. The highline transfer system of claim 1 wherein said power means comprises an electric motor including: a shaft connected to said motor; first and second gears mounted on said shaft in axially spaced relationship; and first and second clutches operably connected to said shaft to permit said power means to selectively drive either of said first or said second gears.
 3. The highline transfer system of claim 2 wherein: said first gear is selectively operable to transmit a power input from said electric motor through said second differential and through an idler gear to drive said first and second drums in relatively opposite directions.
 4. The highline transfer system of claim 3 wherein: said second gear is selectively operable to transmit a power input from said electric motor to drive said second drum.
 5. The highline transfer system of claim 4 wherein: a load transfer means is connected to and supported by said folded highline. 